Monday, January 14, 2013

Andy Diggle On Newsarama

I have gushed and gushed about Grant Morrison's run on Action Comics that I worried if Andy Diggle was going to be doomed to failure in comparison. How do you follow-up greatness? And then I read this interview on Newsarama where Diggle talks about his upcoming run. Here is the link:

I say it all the time but head over and read this one in its entirety. Well worth it! Suddenly I find myself looking forward to Diggle's run, anticipating greatness ...

Here are some of the pieces that grabbed me. I'll save my thoughts for the end.

Newsarama: Andy, as you take over Action Comics, how would
you describe the new direction you're hoping to bring to the book? And how does
the new direction influence your portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman?

Andy Diggle: I think we’ll see a calmer, more centered Superman
once we bring him into the present day. He’s gotten his head around who he is.

That said, my opening three-issue arc is set one year before the present
day, showing how Lex Luthor finally steps up to become one of the most lethal
supervillains of the New 52. That’s a big responsibility.

Nrama: Yeah, a recent issue of Superman
established that the two have quite a bit of history. Does that mean the story
is a dark one?

Diggle: Tonally, I’m wary of taking Superman himself dark.
He’s inherently a bright and optimistic character. I think if you mess with
that too much, you’ll break the core concept. I’m known for writing rather dark
and cynical stories, which works great when you’re writing a characters like
John Constantine or The Losers – I’m just not going to put any of that
into Superman himself. I’m pouring all my meanness and cynicism into Lex Luthor
and the new villains I’m creating, and then letting Superman react to that.

Nrama: So that preview image DC released to announce your
run doesn't mean Superman is dark now? Readers will probably be relieved to
hear you say he's "bright and optimistic," since, as you said, that's
what you've often written in the past.

Diggle: After years of writing dark, tough-guy anti-heroes,
it’s a breath of fresh air being able to write a hero who is 100 percent pure
and good and doesn’t have a cynical bone in his body. He’s a paragon.

Nrama: How would you describe your vision for Superman as a
character?

Diggle: I think the ultimate definition of heroism is
self-sacrifice, and Superman is the exemplar of that. He’s driven by
conscience. So no matter how much he does, how hard he strives, he can never
rest on his laurels. There’ll always be that nagging doubt at the back of his
mind that he could have done more... or should be doing more, right now. He’s
pretty tough on himself.

Nrama: Let's talk about the process of writing Superman.
What does this comic offer you as a writer — how does it challenge you and
entice you as a creator?

Diggle: Superman is the ultimate superhero – the original.
And there’s a big spotlight on him right now, what with the 75th anniversary
and the new movie coming up this year. So it’s exciting to be a part of that. I
just want to respect the history of the character and the amazing roster of
talents who have brought his stories to life. I want to build on that pedigree
and tell stories with both brains and brawn. “Heart and swagger,” as my writer
friend Daragh Carville puts it.

Wow.

A writer who says Superman is inherently 'bright and optimistic', '100% pure and good', who always thinks 'he could have done more'.

Yep. That is my Superman. And frankly, that has been Superman for the bulk of his 75 years. You can write a good Superman story with those core principles of the character in place ... it has been done for almost a century. So to hear Diggle sound excited to write a Superman of that quality makes me feel 'bright and optimistic' too ... and those aren't feelings I commonly have with comics these days.

Between Scott Snyder's comments on Superman and Diggle's comments, I think we might see a sort of rebirth and revitalization of Superman in 2013!

I hate to bring your optimism down...but did no one else notice in that interview that he didn't mention Lois Lane once and instead seemed to confirm that this horrible Superman/Wonder woman relationship is now going to be dragged into Action comics?

When Diggle was first hired he spoke openly about how he felt that Lois and Clark's relationship had been neglected in the new 52 and that his goal was to finally give Lois the attention she deserved.

Fast forward a few months, and Diggle is writing a Valentine's Day story with Superman/WW and seems to have forgotten Lois exists.

Sorry...I like what diggle is saying here about a happy Clark. But if Clark is so "happy"....then why does this divide still exist between him and Lois?

And how can I be expected to read a story about a "happy" and hopeful Superman when the female lead of the Superman story for 75 years is being slowly and carefully destroyed and replaced by DC Comics?

I love Wonder Woman but I don't read a Superman comic to read about Wonder Woman. I read it to read about Superman and that includes Lois Lane.

It's unacceptable that she isn't mentioned once in this interview and it will be unacceptable if writing HER in a Superman title surpasses development for Lois Lane.

Sorry guys...but that's the truth. What's happening to Lois here is not good and it doesn't matter what writer is doing it.